PREVIEW Canadian Open WTA Semi-Finals: Naomi Osaka and Elena Rybakina eye final but Victoria Mboko and Clara Tauson aim to shock
WTAWednesday, 06 August 2025 at 10:30
The final four is set in Montreal, and what a fascinating mix of experience and youth it is. Naomi Osaka, Elena Rybakina, Clara Tauson and Victoria Mboko are the last women standing at the 2025 Canadian Open, each carving their own distinct path to the semi-finals of this prestigious WTA 1000 event.
The stakes are high, and the matchups are mouthwatering: two Grand Slam champions against two rising stars, with a spot in the final on the line.
Elena Rybakina vs Victoria Mboko
First up on Centre Court will be Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina taking on homegrown wildcard Victoria Mboko, a compelling clash of power, precision, and narrative. Under new coach Davide Sanguinetti, who boldly aims to guide her to world No. 1 by the end of 2026, Rybakina has looked increasingly dangerous in Montreal.
Rybakina’s path to the semis has been gritty and commanding. She opened her campaign with a solid win over Hailey Baptiste (6-4, 6-3), then navigated past Jaqueline Cristian in a tiebreak-heavy set (6-0, 7-6(5)). In the Round of 16, she went the distance with Dayana Yastremska, eventually winning 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 in a two-and-a-half-hour battle.
Her quarter-final clash with Marta Kostyuk was perhaps her most dominant performance yet, dismantling the Ukrainian 6-1, 2-1 due to her opponent being injured, to reach her second WTA 1000 semi-final of the year.
Canada’s own Victoria Mboko has taken Montreal by storm with a breakout run that has defied expectations and captured the imagination of the home crowd. Her campaign began in the opening round with a gritty win over Australia’s Kimberly Birrell, where she prevailed 7-5, 6-3. In the next round, she stunned 23rd seed and former Grand Slam champion Sofia Kenin with a composed 6-2, 6-3 victory.
Mboko’s confidence only grew in the Round of 32, as she came from behind again to take down Marie Bouzkova 1-6, 6-3, 6-0 in a dramatic three-set turnaround.
Her biggest triumph came in the Round of 16 when she shocked the top seed and world No. 3, Coco Gauff, in front of a roaring Canadian crowd. Mboko rallied to win 6-4, 6-3, securing the biggest victory of her young career.
In the quarterfinals, she kept her composure and continued her Cinderella run with a convincing 6-4, 6-2 win over Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, booking her place in her first WTA 1000 semi-final. From wildcard to giant slayer, Mboko now stands just one match away from a historic home final.
This is not the first time these two have crossed paths; in fact, it was just two weeks ago that Elena Rybakina defeated Victoria Mboko in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5, during the Round of 16 at the WTA 500 event in Washington. That match, however, was far from a blowout. Mboko pushed Rybakina hard in the second set, showing early signs of the confidence and shot tolerance that have carried her into the Montreal semifinals.
Riding a wave of momentum and backed by a nation’s unwavering support, Mboko will be fiercely determined to claim revenge. Yet Rybakina, aiming for her second WTA 1000 final of the season and a potential return to the top 10, is equally unwilling to let this rivalry slip through her fingers.
Match Info:
Victoria Mboko - Elena Rybakina
Start time (local): Wed, 6 Aug, 6:00 PM
Start time (your time): Thu, 7 Aug, 6:00 AM
Court: Court Central
Tournament: Omnium Banque Nationale présenté par Rogers
Round: Semifinal
Head-to-Head
| Mboko | Rybakina | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 0 | 1 |
| Win Streak | 0 | 1 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 85 | 12 |
| Race Ranking | 90 | 9 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 48 (+37) | 11 (+1) |
| Live Race Ranking | 52 (+38) | 8 (+1) |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 18 (26 Aug 2006) | 26 (17 Jun 1999) |
| Birthplace | Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. | Moscow, Russia |
| Residence | Burlington, Ontario, Canada | Moscow, Russia |
| Height | - | 6'0" (184cm) |
| Weight | - | 159lbs (72kg) |
| Plays | Right (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | - | 2016 |
| Coach | Nathalie Tauziat (January 2025–present) | Davide Sanguinetti (2025–) |
| YTD W/L | 23-8 (74%) | 34-14 (71%) |
| YTD Titles | - | 1 |
| Career Titles | 8 ITF | 9 |
| Prize Money | $ 345,916 | US$ 17,450,937 - 34th in all-time rankings |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
E Rybakina d V Mboko WTA Washington - Round of 166-3 | 7-5 23 Jul 2025 |
||
Naomi Osaka vs. Clara Tauson
Following the high-stakes battle between Rybakina and Mboko, former world number 1 Naomi Osaka will face rising Danish talent Clara Tauson in what promises to be another thrilling Centre Court showdown. Osaka, determined to regain her peak form, has shown flashes of brilliance and steely resolve throughout the tournament.
Osaka’s path to the semifinals has been a test of endurance and skill. She began with a solid 6-4, 6-2 win over qualifier Ariana Arseneault, then battled past Liudmila Samsonova in a thrilling three-set encounter (4-6, 7-6(6), 6-3).
In the Round of 32, Osaka continued her momentum by edging Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-4, before cruising past Anastasija Sevastova 6-1, 6-0 in the Round of 16. Her quarterfinal match was a statement victory over Elina Svitolina, which she won 6-2, 6-2 in just over an hour.
On the other hand, Tauson’s breakout run has been marked by tenacity and resilience. She opened with a confident 6-1, 6-2 win over Lucia Bronzetti, then followed with a solid 6-3, 6-0 victory against Yuliia Starodubtseva in the Round of 32.
Tauson then stunned the tennis world by upsetting world number 2 Iga Swiatek in a thrilling two-set battle, 7-6(1), 6-3, before pushing through a tight quarterfinal against Madison Keys, edging her 6-1, 6-4 to reach her first WTA 1000 semifinal.
Their upcoming clash carries extra intrigue given their head-to-head record, which currently stands 1-0 in Tauson’s favour. That sole meeting came in the final of the WTA Auckland tournament earlier this year in January 2025, where Osaka retired due to injury with Tauson leading 6-4. While that result gave Tauson the edge, the circumstances leave a caveat that this rivalry is far from settled.
At 27, Osaka brings a wealth of experience and seven career titles to the court, while 22-year-old Tauson, with three titles and a rapidly rising trajectory, represents the new wave of WTA contenders. Osaka will be eager to prove her resilience and even the score, while Tauson aims to build on her breakthrough win.
Their Montreal showdown promises a compelling battle of experience versus youthful determination, with both players hungry to assert their place in this developing rivalry.
Match Info:
Naomi Osaka - Clara Tauson
Start time (local): Wed, 6 Aug, 7:10 PM
Start time (your time): Thu, 7 Aug, 7:10 AM
Court: Court Central
Tournament: Omnium Banque Nationale présenté par Rogers
Round: Semifinal
Head-to-Head
| Osaka | Tauson | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 0 | 1 |
| Win Streak | 0 | 1 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 49 | 19 |
| Race Ranking | 49 | 13 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 29 (+20) | 15 (+4) |
| Live Race Ranking | 28 (+21) | 11 (+2) |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 27 (16 Oct 1997) | 22 (21 Dec 2002) |
| Birthplace | Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan | Copenhagen |
| Residence | Beverly Hills, California, United States | Kongens Lyngby, Denmark |
| Height | 5'10" (180cm) | 5'11" (182cm) |
| Weight | 152lbs (69kg) | 146lbs (66kg) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Right (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | 2014 | 2019 |
| Coach | Tomasz Wiktorowski | Kasper Elsvad |
| YTD W/L | 25-9 (74%) | 29-14 (67%) |
| YTD Titles | 1 | - |
| Career Titles | 7 | 3 |
| Prize Money | US $22,610,445 - 21st in all-time rankings | US$ $ 3,734,224 |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
C Tauson d N Osaka WTA Auckland - Final4-6 5 Jan 2025 |
||
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